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Cortical responses to thelack of high-frequency cues in musical emotion perception
Abstract Impaired musical emotion perception is common in hearing loss, yet how reduced spectral audibility shapes cortical processing during emotion judgments remains unclear. Because alpha-band activity can index top-down control when sensory evidence is degraded, we examined whether spectral degradation increases the cognitive demand required to form stable affective judgments in music. Forty-eight healthy participants were divided into three groups: high-frequency hearing loss simulation (HF sim ), low-frequency hearing loss simulation (LF sim ), and normal hearing (NH). Participants rated the arousal and valence of filtered musical stimuli (happy, sad, neutral) during EEG recording. HF sim showed dimension- and context-dependent alpha modulations. In the happy condition, arousal ratings and alpha power were comparable across groups, whereas valence judgments showed behavioral differences and late-stage alpha increases in HF sim, consistent with reduced certainty when high-frequency cues supporting positive valence are degraded. In the sad condition, behavioral ratings were preserved, yet HF sim showed sustained alpha increases during arousal judgments, suggesting compensatory inhibitory-gating processes that may support stable appraisal under degraded listening. Overall, spectral degradation appears to elicit compensatory cognitive processing: alpha power increases index higher demands for happy-valence with reduced HF cues, and compensatory gating that maintains sad low-arousal appraisal.
Light slows down carbon nanotubes in water
Thermal–chemical characterization of hydrochloric acid-treated rice husk–pine sawdust heterogeneous briquettes
Serum and adipose tissue-derived extracellular vesicles as biomarker reservoirs in oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Abstract Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor survival rates and rising global incidence. Despite research advances, no validated liquid biopsy biomarkers currently exist for OAC. Extracellular vesicles (EV), due to their role in intercellular communication and ability to carry molecular cargo, represent a promising source of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This study explores the proteomic profiles of EV-enriched preparations derived from serum and adipose-conditioned media (ACM) of OAC patients and non-cancer controls. EV-enriched preparations were isolated using size exclusion chromatography and analysed via label-free liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Bioinformatic analysis included principal component analysis and pathway analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using public datasets evaluated the prognostic relevance of candidate EV proteins. Proteomic profiling identified 65 differentially expressed proteins in serum-derived EV-enriched preparations from OAC patients, enriched in angiogenesis and migration pathways. In adipose tissue-derived EV-enriched preparations, 680 proteins were differentially expressed in OAC patients, with 118 altered between people with obesity and people without obesity. Comparative analysis revealed six consistently upregulated proteins in both serum and adipose-derived EV-enriched preparations: MYL6, VCP, HSP90AB1, CLTC, CCT7, and TCP1. Of these, HSP90AB1, CCT7, and TCP1 were significantly associated with poorer overall survival. These results highlight the role of EV-enriched proteins in tumour progression and immune modulation. This study offers novel biomarker candidates for OAC diagnosis and prognosis, especially in the context of obesity. The identification of clinically relevant proteomic signatures supports the potential of EV-based liquid biopsies for non-invasive disease monitoring and personalised therapeutic strategies in OAC.
Multi-receiver wide-beam SAS chirp scaling imaging algorithm based on complex dual square-root series inversion
Variable mitochondrial phenotypes and reduced complex IV assembly factor SCO2 in LRRK2-G2019S fibroblasts
Abstract LRRK2-G2019S is the most common pathogenic LRRK2 mutation which accounts for up to 13% of cases of familial Parkinson’s disease. The LRRK2-G2019S mutation has incomplete penetrance which increases with age. Molecular mechanisms which contribute to the disease status in LRRK2-G2019S mutation carriers are yet to be fully defined. Here, we aimed to further investigate the specific mitochondrial effects of LRRK2-G2019S penetrance in a cohort of patient-derived fibroblasts from manifesting and non-manifesting LRRK2-G2019S carriers compared to controls to further elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of the mutation. We find a significant reduction of 50% in the expression of the complex IV assembly factor SCO2 in LRRK2-G2019S manifesting fibroblasts. In contrast, SCO2 levels remained similar to controls in non-manifesting LRRK2-G2019S carriers. A small reduction in complex IV subunit expression accompanied this reduction in SCO2 in manifesting LRRK2-G2019S carriers. Despite the role of SCO2 in copper incorporation into complex IV, we identified no differences in the unbound mitochondrial copper content in a limited number of manifesting or non-manifesting LRRK2-G2019S carriers compared to controls. However, LRRK2-G2019S carriers exhibit variable cellular phenotypes in mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP or ROS production which does not differ significantly between manifesting and non-manifesting carriers. We conclude that mitochondrial complex IV deficiency could be a pathogenic mechanism of the LRRK2-G2019S mutation which may be attributed to a reduction in SCO2, however there is evident heterogeneity in the cellular phenotype of LRRK2-G2019S carriers which may suggest underlying compensatory mechanisms.
Mechanistic insights into chemical exchange during the signal amplification by reversible exchange sensitization of pyruvate
Abstract Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is a nuclear spin hyperpolarization technique in which the transient interaction of parahydrogen (pH 2 ) and a target substrate with an iridium complex leads to polarization of the substrate. SABRE enables direct hyperpolarization of the substrate without chemical modification, enabling rapid polarization buildup within seconds under mild conditions. Here, we use a parahydrogen-enhanced, spin-selective nuclear magnetic resonance method to investigate pyruvate binding, which is combined with exchange-model fitting and density functional theory calculations. Our study reveals several key findings that reshape the current understanding of SABRE. First, we observe that intramolecular hydrogen exchange of the hydrides occurs faster than pyruvate or H 2 loss. Second, we discover a distinct stable [Ir(H) 2 (IMes)(κ 1 -pyr)(DMSO) 2 ] complex. Finally, the results suggest a potential role of counterions (here Na + ) in Ir-pyruvate binding. Insights into complex kinetics and distributions as a function of temperature, [DMSO], [pyruvate], and hydrogen pressure are presented. The methods demonstrated here, exemplified by SABRE, provide a framework that is expected to guide future research in the field.
Localized interdigitation zone thinning in age-related macular degeneration
Synthesis of alumina ceramic meta-fibers with tensile super-plasticity
EdgeFusionNet: real-time multimodal feedback for table tennis training via lightweight cross-modal attention fusion on edge-cloud collaborative architecture
Neuromorphic hierarchical modular reservoirs
Abstract Modularity is a fundamental principle of brain organization, reflected in the presence of segregated subnetworks that enable specialized information processing. These densely connected modules are often nested within larger, higher-order modules, giving rise to a hierarchical modular architecture. Yet, how hierarchical modularity shapes network function remains unclear. Here we introduce a simple blockmodeling framework for generating multi-level hierarchical modular networks and implement them as recurrent neural network reservoirs to evaluate their computational capacity. We show that hierarchical modular networks enhance memory capacity, support multitasking, and produce a broader range of temporal dynamics compared to strictly modular and random networks. These functional advantages can be traced to topological features enriched in hierarchical modular networks, including reciprocal and cyclic network motifs. We find that these benefits extend to the heterogeneous modular organization of empirical human brain structural connectivity, where hierarchical organization enhances memory capacity and contributes to the emergence of brain-like neural timescales. Altogether, these results show that hierarchical modularity endows networks with computationally advantageous properties, providing insight into the relationship between neural network structure and function.
Psychometric properties of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support among iranian patients with cardiovascular diseases
Interfacial epitaxy of single-crystalline Al2(MoO4)3 flakes for anisotropic phonon polaritons
Abstract The unique phonon characteristics of metal molybdates give rise to intriguing anisotropies in thermal conductivity and mechanical elasticity. However, direct nanoscale imaging of these phonon modes and their interactions with light remains challenging, as these materials have so far been available only as isomorphic polycrystalline films. Here, we develop a cost-effective interfacial epitaxy strategy for synthesizing thin-layer aluminum molybdate (Al 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 , AMO) single crystals. This is achieved by confining a molybdenum foil between two sapphire substrates, which directs uniform nucleation and epitaxial growth of high-quality monoclinic AMO. The strong phonon-photon coupling fosters hyperbolic phonon polaritons (PhPs), whose propagation can be tailored by excitation frequency and crystal symmetry. Crucially, biaxial epitaxial strain induces anisotropic edge-launched PhPs. This work establishes a general approach for synthesizing high-quality ternary metal molybdates, providing a versatile platform for polaritonics and nanophotonics.
An avatar motion system for realizing gesture functions
Abstract In recent years, various communication robots have been developed, and humanoid robots, such as androids, offer the particular advantage of high expressiveness in communication through facial expressions and gestures. On the other hand, previous research has pointed out that using such teleoperated highly flexible robots can lead to complex control methods. Therefore, in this study, we developed an automatic motion system for an avatar based on the operator’s speech for asynchronous presentations. This study aimed to comprehensively cover the functions of gestures based on sociology. The effects of key modules were also experimentally verified, and demonstrated the effectiveness of the implemented functions. The main contribution of this study lies in demonstrating how each of these gesture functions can be realized and clarifying the impressions they convey to the participants.
Light-induced quantum friction of carbon nanotubes in water
Abstract Friction slows down moving objects at both macroscopic and microscopic scales 1 . At the electronic level, quantum friction describes direct transfer of momentum between a liquid and the electrons of a solid 2 . Owing to its microscopic nature, this phenomenon remains experimentally challenging to capture 3 . Here we show that near-infrared fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibit light-induced quantum friction in water. It is measured by observing an excitation-power-dependent linear decrease of around 50% in the diffusion constants of functionalized SWCNTs in aqueous solution. This effect disappears when excitons are localized, as in the case of SWCNTs with quantum defects. We further show that the chemical manipulation of exciton concentration by molecules that increase or decrease SWCNT fluorescence also modulates the diffusion constant by up to a factor of 2. Optical pump terahertz (THz) probe spectroscopy shows an instantaneous response (around 30 cm −1 ) that we assign to direct exciton–water coupling in the range of water Debye modes. It is followed by an increasing (>100 ps) response in the range of intermolecular translational modes of the hydrogen bond network of water (>100 cm −1 ), resembling heating. Classical molecular dynamics simulations further support a mechanism in which the fluctuating dipole moments of excitons create frictional forces. These findings establish light-induced quantum friction between excitons in SWCNTs and water and show that electronic excitations can be used to control nanoscale motion and fluid properties.
Multiparticle entanglement of nuclear spins in silicon
Light spectrum optimizer and pyramidal dilation attention convolutional neural network for wind energy conversion system using permanent magnet synchronous generator and single-ended primary inductor converter
A vast whale necropolis has been found
Intravenous administration of an engineered AAV9-gene-silencing vector suppresses human SOD1 and extends survival in an ALS mouse model
Abstract Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene silencing offers a promising strategy for achieving durable therapeutic effects with a single administration. Mutations in the human superoxide dismutase 1 ( h SOD1) gene, inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, lead to motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a fatal neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatment. In this study, we employed AAV9 to deliver to the SOD1 G93A ALS mouse model artificial microRNAs targeting SOD1, embedded in dual miR-33 scaffolds driven by the promoter of the human survival motor neuron 1 (hSMN1) gene. A single intravenous injection achieved widespread and sustained suppression of SOD1, preserved α-motor neurons, maintained neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and improved muscle function. These benefits are translated into significantly improved respiratory function, motor performance, and survival. Therapeutic efficacy was observed both when the treatment was administered pre-symptomatically and during symptomatic stages. Compared with previous AAV-based interventions, the survival benefit achieved in this IV delivery approach is unprecedented, supporting its potential for clinical translation in SOD1-linked ALS and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases caused by gain-of-toxicity gene mutations.